Former Zambian defence minister Davies Chama has been sentenced to eight years in prison with hard labour for a decade-old shooting. The Mongu High Court in Western Province found Chama, 60, guilty of shooting political activist Mushaukwa Mushaukwa during the 2015 Mulobezi parliamentary by-election campaign.
The court heard that Chama and his co-accused, Brian Nyoni, opened fire during a heated political clash, severely injuring the United Party for National Development member. Nyoni, who is now a fugitive, received the same sentence in absentia. His punishment will take effect upon arrest, the judge ruled.
Presiding Judge John Mbuzi described the act as a deliberate attempt to cause grievous harm, rejecting any claims of self-defence or political provocation. Chama’s prison term will officially begin on August 1, the day of his conviction, marking a dramatic downfall for a man once at the heart of Zambia’s security establishment.
He served as defence minister from 2016 until 2021, during a period marked by political tensions and fierce party rivalries across the country. The incident occurred about 588 kilometres from Lusaka, in Western Province, and became a symbol of how political competition in Zambia sometimes turns violent.
Court records indicate the shooting was linked to a confrontation between supporters of rival political camps during the by-election. The sentence has sparked debate in Zambia, with some viewing it as overdue justice, while others call it a politically charged reckoning.